Recently, thanks to the Synod on the Family, the Catholic Church has received a lot of press from the media. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, the media reported very little fact, and mostly just pushed their agenda on the Catholic Church. Homosexuality, premarital sex, divorce, and cohabitation were all topics at the Synod, so naturally there were easy journalistic opportunities to be had.
I’ve assembled a few examples of Articles floating around the internet regarding the Synod:
I’ve assembled a few examples of Articles floating around the internet regarding the Synod:
Great hooks, except for the fact that the Church is not locked in some Mortal Kombat match between Pope Francis and the rest of the Catholic Church. If you go to this site, you will see a picture of a plaque that traces the lineage of the popes.
This plaque is a list of every Pope in direct lineage going back to St. Peter. The thing about Papacy, which is so often ignored, is Papal Succession. Papal Succession does not just mean there will be another Pope after the current one dies – it means that the teachings of the Catholic Church will be upheld by the next Pope. And the next. And the next (andthenextandthenextandthenext…)
There are indeed matters of opinion and simple traditions in the Catholic Church. These things are subject to change, such as the changes seen in the Mass after Vatican II. Some matters, however, are Dogmatic. Dogma is defined as “a truth appertaining to faith or morals, revealed by God, transmitted from the Apostles in the Scriptures or by tradition, and proposed by the Church for the acceptance of the faithful.” You see, the Catholic Church defines itself based on the belief that there is one truth, and that our lives should be formed around it. It’s inclusive of all people, but not all beliefs or ideas. In other words, in order to consider oneself Catholic, one must adhere to Dogmatic teachings declared as truth by the Catholic Church. One is free to pick and choose what to believe in his/her life, but choosing non-Catholic things and labeling them as “Catholic” is simply incorrect.
Something the secular world has a hard time accepting is that in these dogmatic matters, the Church will never change. Indeed, if the Church did change in these areas, it would cease to represent the Catholic Church, as it would…not be Catholic. As was put most poignantly in a homily I recently heard, the Church and Her teachings do not change, they develop. The distinction was made clear by St. Vincent of Lerins (died c. 445):
There are indeed matters of opinion and simple traditions in the Catholic Church. These things are subject to change, such as the changes seen in the Mass after Vatican II. Some matters, however, are Dogmatic. Dogma is defined as “a truth appertaining to faith or morals, revealed by God, transmitted from the Apostles in the Scriptures or by tradition, and proposed by the Church for the acceptance of the faithful.” You see, the Catholic Church defines itself based on the belief that there is one truth, and that our lives should be formed around it. It’s inclusive of all people, but not all beliefs or ideas. In other words, in order to consider oneself Catholic, one must adhere to Dogmatic teachings declared as truth by the Catholic Church. One is free to pick and choose what to believe in his/her life, but choosing non-Catholic things and labeling them as “Catholic” is simply incorrect.
Something the secular world has a hard time accepting is that in these dogmatic matters, the Church will never change. Indeed, if the Church did change in these areas, it would cease to represent the Catholic Church, as it would…not be Catholic. As was put most poignantly in a homily I recently heard, the Church and Her teachings do not change, they develop. The distinction was made clear by St. Vincent of Lerins (died c. 445):
Is there to be no development of religion in the Church of Christ? Certainly, there is to be development and on the largest scale.
Who can be so grudging to men, so full of hate for God, as to try to prevent it? But it must truly be development of the faith, not alteration of the faith. Development means that each thing expands to be itself, while alteration means that a thing is changed from one thing into another.
The problem now becomes looking at Pope Francis and trying to view his efforts of development as efforts of change. (Note: If you do this, you’re gonna have a bad time.) You see, Pope Francis (believe it or not, media) upholds the Church teaching. Since the media focused so much on homosexuality and “gay marriage” during the Synod, I’ll quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
First, the Catechism states:
First, the Catechism states:
2357 "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."142 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
Then:
2358 [Homosexual Persons] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
This is the Church teaching that Pope Francis is upholding – and, contrary to what is presented by the media – you can indeed love the person without condoning the action.
Finally, Pope Francis, who I’m sure has been made aware of the “hubbub” caused by the Synod, made this statement in an address on October 25th.
“The family is being hit, the family is being struck and the family is being bastardized,”
He remarked on the error of the secular world’s view that “you can call everything family, right?”
He went on to say: “What is being proposed is not marriage, it’s an association. But it’s not marriage! It’s necessary to say these things very clearly and we have to say it!”
He spoke of the many “new forms” of unions, describing them as “totally destructive and limiting the greatness of the love of marriage.”
Try as they might, the media just isn’t able to fit Pope Francis into their agenda-specific box. When Pope Francis first started his service as Pope, he didn’t have very many statements on controversial issues besides “lol you guys always talk bout dat” (paraphrased) – as time goes on however, Pope Francis and his statements make it incredibly clear: He’s Catholic – The Church is Catholic – The Catholic Church upholds Catholic teachings. He doesn’t care about your agendas. He’s too busy calling people to The Truth, like the pope before him, and the pope before him, and on, and on (andonandonadonandon). You know - doing pope stuff.
Finally, Pope Francis, who I’m sure has been made aware of the “hubbub” caused by the Synod, made this statement in an address on October 25th.
“The family is being hit, the family is being struck and the family is being bastardized,”
He remarked on the error of the secular world’s view that “you can call everything family, right?”
He went on to say: “What is being proposed is not marriage, it’s an association. But it’s not marriage! It’s necessary to say these things very clearly and we have to say it!”
He spoke of the many “new forms” of unions, describing them as “totally destructive and limiting the greatness of the love of marriage.”
Try as they might, the media just isn’t able to fit Pope Francis into their agenda-specific box. When Pope Francis first started his service as Pope, he didn’t have very many statements on controversial issues besides “lol you guys always talk bout dat” (paraphrased) – as time goes on however, Pope Francis and his statements make it incredibly clear: He’s Catholic – The Church is Catholic – The Catholic Church upholds Catholic teachings. He doesn’t care about your agendas. He’s too busy calling people to The Truth, like the pope before him, and the pope before him, and on, and on (andonandonadonandon). You know - doing pope stuff.
In conclusion:
Go away, media. We’re too busy being Catholic.
Go away, media. We’re too busy being Catholic.
